ENG-1984 — Page 67

THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG

A Ministerial System

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32. In response to the Green Paper a substantial number of suggestions were made that unofficial members of the Executive Council should be given more power and authority to control and supervise the policies and the operations of the government through some form of ministerial system in future.

33. This issue, like that concerning the position of the Governor, raises important constitutional questions. It is not a matter that need be decided in the immediate future nor is it the only way of proceeding. The whole subject will be addressed further at a later stage.

THE GOVERNOR

34. Only one proposal was made in the Green Paper with regard to the position of the Governor, namely, that in due course he should be replaced as President of the Legislative Council by a presiding officer elected by the unofficial members of the Legislative Council from among their own number.

35. Although the proposal to replace the Governor as President of the Legislative Council by an elected presiding officer was, on the whole, reasonably well received, it seems clear that the general view is in favour of making no significant changes in the position of the Governor during the next few years. Public opinion seems to favour caution as far as the immediate future is concerned.

36. It is therefore proposed to reconsider the Governor's position as President of the Legislative Council in the review in 1987.

37. As regards the position of the Governor in general, the Green Paper stated that the Governor will continue to be appointed formally by the Queen until 1997 and there was strong public support for this. Since the Green Paper was published the Draft Agreement on the Future of Hong Kong has been initialled in Peking. Any proposals for change in the position and role of the Governor will need to take into account the provisions of the Joint Declaration and these important issues will be considered at a later stage.

OTHER RELATED MATTERS

Civic Education

38. An opinion which has been expressed strongly by many organisations and in- dividual members of the public is that arrangements should be made for the people of Hong Kong to be educated more effectively and comprehensively in political and constitutional matters so that they will be able to understand better all the implications and complexities of proposals for the development of the system of government in Hong Kong.

39. The Education Department has been promoting civic education in schools for many years through Social Studies and Economic and Public Affairs courses. It is the intention to develop these further in a new syllabus covering Government and Public Affairs. Civic education will be pursued both through the formal school curriculum and extra-curricular activities, such as current affairs clubs, debating societies and visits for senior students to district boards, the Urban Council, the UMELCO Office, government departments and the Legislative Council.

40. It is also important that adults should be given the opportunity to receive more civic education and encouragement will be given to other educational institutions and organisa- tions to provide more courses in constitutional and public affairs for the general public.